Animated toy



June 12, 1945.

N. `G. COHEN ANIMATED TOY Filed Aprilv 18, 1945 JNVENTOR. JVaan/ Qf'oilen/ BY Patented June ,12, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFICE ANIMATED TOY Nathan GfCohen, Brooklyn, N.r Y.- Application April 18, 1945, Serial No. 589,021

9 claims; (o1. Lis- 104)V l This invention' relates to toys, and more particularly to those of the animated type in which the legs, head, arms or other parts ofthe gure of an animal or human `figure' are caused to move in a naturalgand life-like manner as the,

toy is propelled across` the door by being pushed or otherwise moved.

I am aware that prior to this invention, efforts l have been made to lend animation to the figure of an animal or the like, by movement of the figure across the oon'b'utin most cases an unnatural rocking movement of the body and the rigidly-attached legs of the figure wasthe result, so that the effect secured wasquite unlikethe natural running or walking movements of the animal. In otherv instances, where efforts were made to secure properly synchronized'movements of the legs and head of the figure, considerable operating mechanism was involved, thereby making the manufacturing Vc ost of the toy prohibitive and the selling price of the toy quitebeyondlthe reach of the person of moderate means.

The primary object therefore, of the present invention, is to provide a toy of this character which can be inexpensively constructed of wood, light metal, ply-wood or any other suitable' pressed sheet material;l which willbe composedof relatively few parts capable of being stamped orcut from the sheet material in quantity and which can be rapidly assembled into the `'lnishedtoy. The invention lfurther contemplatesA the provision of a toy of this character which, by the simple act of pushing or pulling'it across the 'floor or sidewalk will cause the legs, head, tail and/or vother parts of the figure to move in a natural and lifelike manner to simulate the normal movements oi the represented gure'when engaged inrrunning or walking. If for example,the'gure is that of shown in section, and Fig. 4 isv asectional view on the line -II-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The toy may be almost wholly constructed from wood, ply-wood, pressed board, or any other suit,- able sheet material easilyA fabricated into the shape of the requiredparts.` 4In the form shown, the toy has assumed Ithe shape of `a small animal such asa dog,1but it willbe apparent thatjit may be made in the form of other animals or other objects. The body of the animal shown is com,-

posed of two face plates of suitable shape, indicated respectively-'atvl 'and 2, these plates lbeing maintained in properly spaced relationship by any7 suitable spacing means or inserts,.such means being omitted'to simplify illustration of the operating parts'of the toy. The toy'is provided.l with a pair of fore legs 3 and a vpair of hind legs 4, the legs being disposed on :the outside .or .the lface .20 .plates I and-2 in the manner clearly disclosed in thedrawing. vThe head isshown at 5 and Ythe same vis mounted formovement between the vface plates! and 2 in a manner to be described. In thev embodiment .of the; inventionv disclosed, *the toy is adapted vto beI propelled by being pushed across .the floor or sidewalk by/a` child, and for ho'ld theseelements in their properly spaced relation. f

The hind legs 4 are secured; upon'apivot pin 8 f mounted forv rotative or oscillatory movement in a dog or horse, which are the most commonly used animal figures intoys,-`the' legs randhead"of the gure can be synchronized as to movement so that the same will move in the mannerl in which these parts are normally moved during running f i` fi.. .'2' Si. '."I

These and other objects are accomplished by the invention, a more particular description of l which will be hereafter set `forth and pointed out in the claimsappended hereto. I l

Reference is to be had 'to the accompanying drawing, forming `va part hereof, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an animated toy constructed in accordance with the'invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 1, but with one of the face plates of the body removed, and some of the parts being the face plates I and 2 and the fore legs 3 areboth mounted upon a pivot pin lig-,also arranged for rotative or oscillatory movement in the'face plates I and 2. The'head 5 is fixed upon the pivot pin 9 so that when the fore legs are swung rearwardly' the head will descend and conversely, when the fore legs swing forwardly the head will lbe raised.

Rotatively mounted upon a pivot pin 'I IJ extending between the face plates I and 2 is a driving wheel or'disk -I'I provided in one of its faces with a substantially voval cam groove' or track I2 by which the legs and head are moved'or animated.

One of the hind legs 4 carries an inwardly'pro-v ,iecting pin or peg I3 which enters into the cam groove I2, `and one of the fore legs 3 'carries a similar pin or peg I4 enteringintothe groove'IZ at a point substantially diametrically opposite to the point of location of the pin I3.'.`

It will be observed that the diameter of the wheel or disk II is such that the wheel projects below the feet I5 and lI6 of the legs of the figure,

so that when the toy' is placed on the floor or wardly.

against any other flat surface, the periphery of the wheel or disk will Contact therewith and as the toy is pushed forwardly by the child, the fri-etional contact of the wheel` with the surface of the floor will cause the wheel to be rotated. The eccentricity or oval form of the cam groove I2 is such that when the toy is pushed forwardly and the wheel or disk II is thus rotated, the groove I2 will act upon the pins I3 and I4 in such a manner as tomove the legsof the gure with lifelikeanimation. That is to say, whenithe -fore legs 3 are swung forwardly, as in Fig. 1, the head 5 is swung upwardly, and at the same time the hind legs 4 are swung rearwardly. When the front legs 3 swing rearwardly, the head descends L and at this time the hind legs -4 are .-swnng .for These movements are performed by many animals in running and Tthu-s, 'when toy is moved across the oor or sidewalk, a v ery lifelike and realistic effect of a running animal -is secured. .To allow clearance for'the pin .L3,fthe iface .plate I `is,sh`apedzor-cut away -asgindicatediat I1, and to allow clearance for thezfront pin I4, the face ,plate I :is :provided Awith an :arcuate -slot IBthrough whichtherpin I4 extends'to .reach fand enter into the :camtgroove I2.

The structure vo'f the toy isisuch that it may readily be constructed vfrom inexpensiye sheet materiaL lyet it can be readily made .of sturdy `construction 'and `capable of vwithstanding considerable abuse. The .construction :isxsuch kthat it 'may v'be .applied to many itypes -nof .gures, .Janimal or human, :and an iinteresting .and Arealistic toy islthe result.

.'In the :forms-shown, .the ttoyisl not rseti-sustaining, 'which is to say, v,it .must "be `supported or :held :inoperative :positonby the 'grasp of ithe fchilds lhand u-ponthe push-rodi. fByv attaching asmall car-t to the'gure, theftoycwillrsupport itself, Vand fa" pull string .can 'thenbezatta'ched to :the .'iigure fand the'toy *can then be pulled Lrather Ythan :pushed 4.'Alsofwliile 'the Wheel or disk '-is Ashown as vbeing-:rotated :by'zfrictional @contact with the hoor, the wheel oradiskcanlbeldriven: in any other 1suitable `Way, `Tas will `:be A'clearly :understood Aby `ttiose`skilledinthis art. .Therefore,fwhi1e Izhave described one embodiment of ".therinvention, ,it 's obvious .that'the same :is not `toibe restricted Ithereto', "but is :broad .enough to :cover Jell :strnc- -tures lcoming within'the' scope of the annexed claims.

1."A toy of thefchara'cter described comprising, tal ligure Vhaving -a tbody, 'legs "pivotally attached Tto the body, ra rotatively 'mounted disk in the o body, said disk' having Aa cam groove,` the leere having'fprojections entering intofsaid groove, Tand the .'gro'ove being -veccentrically shaped :to cause thieflegs tobe'moved on vtheir Apivots in vlproper `'sequence `to thereby "simulate the 4normal leg rI'n'oveme'nts lof i the representedfgure while running."

I 42; 'Atoy'of the 'characterdescribedcomprising, a figure consisting ofthe fbody fof 'an Yanimal, degs pivoted in 'the body, :a fdisk rotatiyely mounted in the :body and 'having "its A.periphery i extended 'belowi the bodyfforf contact with the floor'whereby ysaiditlisk rotatedwhen thetoy isimoved-across theioor, -a 'camwgroovegprovidedrin the disk, the flegs 'having #proj ections entrant :into said ygroove. and the groove being feccentrically eshaped `to cause the legs to be pivotally moved on their respective pivots in proper sequence to thereby simulate the leg movements of the illustrated animal in walking or running. 5 3. A toy of the character described comprising, a figure 'consisting of the body of an animal or the like, said body being composed of a pair of spaced face plates, legs 'pivotally mounted outside of the face plates, a rotatably mounted disk located between the face plates, cam means on the disk I*for engaging ,the llegs, said A.cam means consisting of an eccentric surface operative to swing the legs on their pivots and in proper sequence to cause the movements of the legs to simulate those of the legs of the represented animal .when walking or running.

4. A toy of the character described comprising, .fa iigurefofan'animal having a body, limbs movably Vmounted thereon, a disk rotative in the body and adapted to support the body on the surface Aof fthe .oor ,and -to be rotated .-by. frctional contact with fthe ifloor, aneccentric'groove; in- .one face of 'the disk :andprojectionsffrom .the legs :entering saidgroove, whereby -sad legsare `pivyotally moved when the disk is rotated.

5...-A toy ofthe characterfdescribed-eomprising a body portion, limbs pivotal thereon,:a rotatable supportingwheel-mounted in the body 4and projecting below ,the sainea cam `groove-.inY the1 wheel, and g pins projecting from-the .limbs and entering said cam groove whereby -said limbs vare animatedupon rotation of the wheel.

6. ,Aatoy f of ,the character described. comprising, :a body, hind legs .pivoted'thereomfore legs piv- 1otedfon the body, a head Iixedlysecured onzthe --pivotrforthe forelega;a--rotativesupporting wheel vrested-.against .the surface of the iioor and rotatedibyrictional contact '.'with the oor,.a cam .groove of substantially oval formation vformed in oneiace'of the 'wheelbetweenthe .leg-s, and -pins projecting from -the legs and disposed in the cam groove.

'-7. fA1toy ofthe characterdescribed comprising, .afngure `having a body, movable elements rex ttending therefrom, `said .-elements.- beingepiyotally rconnected tofthe fbody, a rotatable .disk in the -body, ksaid :diskfhavmg a cam gro'ove, aand parts fprojectingffromthemovable-elements and enter- .fing -the -cam groove whereby said selements are U oscillatedfby rotation of the-disk.

18; A toy of the character'zdescribed inclaim a7, wherein said :movable elements consist of the `legs and Anead-zof ythe -gure :of .an animal, and wherein thedisk is ,positioned for frictionalcon- Vtact Twiththe floorto`enable said vdiskito .be ro- `tatedpthereby.

49.4i toy ofthenchara'cter described comprising 'a gurefhaving a body, saidbody consisting'of :apair-of similarly shaped-face plates, adisk roo 'ztatively--mounted Fbetween Ithe face plates .and

fhaving its edge disposed below the fsamefsad disk :being provided fwithfa 'continuous cam groove,

.pivot pins mountedffon oscillatory movement` between /the-face plates, a pair of legs securedon 65 -each 'cfthe .pins,fa head fsecured-.on-one ofthe 'pinsgandzprojections from oneflegof #each pair -enteringthe .cam-:groove atsuch positions therein that the pairs ,of-,legsarefswung toand from .onefanother byrotation. of the disk.

Y .NATI-IAN. G. `COI-IEN. 

